Tight end Andrew Vollert #87 of the Chargers is helped off the field after an injury during the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 08, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

COSTA MESA — Tight end wasn’t a need for the Chargers when they decided to claim Andrew Vollert off waivers from the Cincinnati Bengals in May.

They saw potential in Vollert, and the Weber State product was showing that with his play on the practice field. But Vollert’s promising training camp has come to an end.

Vollert is out for the year with an ACL injury, Chargers coach Anthony Lynn revealed after Saturday’s practice.

“He was really coming along,” Lynn said. “He’s going to be out with an ACL. He’s done. He was playing pretty well. We’re going to miss him.”

Vollert was injured during a punt in the third quarter of Thursday’s preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals. He was down on the field before being helped off by the medical team.

Vollert was making a push for a spot on the 53-man roster, even with a crowded tight end group that consists of Hunter Henry, Virgil Green and Sean Culkin. Vollert made the most of his opportunities in practice while Green was sidelined.

Vollert, a 2018 undrafted free agent, recorded a 25-yard catch against the Cardinals, the team he started with before joining the Bengals. He spent the majority of his rookie year on the Cardinals’ practice squad before joining the Bengals in November.

Rookie precaution

A hamstring injury forced Nasir Adderley to end his Pro Day early in March. He then missed mandatory minicamp in June because of a hamstring injury.

The hamstring issues are now eating into the rookie free safety’s training camp time.

After participating in the first five camp practices, Adderley has missed the past six, including two joint scrimmages with the Rams and the preseason opener against the Cardinals.

It’s unknown if Adderley’s hamstring injury is the same one from his Pro Day. The Chargers have decided rest is the best treatment to help the second-round pick from Delaware fully heal.

“We don’t want to put him back out there too soon and him do something really serious to that hamstring,” Lynn said. “We want to give him time to get well because we know he can play when he’s healthy. We got to make sure that he’s right, but yeah, I’d like to see him get back this week.”

Adderley has fallen behind in the starting free safety competition, but Lynn isn’t worried about his depth chart status.

“It’s important for him to practice,” Lynn said.

Mystery solved

Wide receiver Keenan Allen was mysteriously absent for the preseason opener, with Lynn only saying he didn’t travel with the team to Arizona. Answers were provided Saturday.

Lynn said Allen didn’t travel out of precaution for the right knee he injured in the joint scrimmage against the Rams last week.

“He had a little fluid on his knee,” Lynn said. “So for him flying, we knew he wasn’t playing. We just took that off his plate.”

The knee injury caused Allen to miss only one practice. He returned to the practice field Tuesday, which made his absence in Arizona a surprise.

Allen appeared healthy for Saturday’s practice, with multiple dynamic plays, including a 70-yard touchdown. The Madden NFL 20 rating adjusters were present to see it.

Allen is now rated a 92 overall on the video game, three points higher than the initial 89 rating that led to Allen boycotting the video game.

The Madden people came out today. Explains why Keenan Allen was on another level at practice. Had a 70-yard TD to help boost his Madden rating. The strike is over. Allen is playing Madden again #Chargerspic.twitter.com/NLFar9Hlgg

Notable

Chargers cornerback Trevor Williams didn’t practice after missing the preseason game against the Cardinals. Lynn said after the game that Williams had a minor injury. “Trevor’s still rehabbing,” Lynn said. “He’ll be back when he’s ready.” …

Lynn was pleased with the running back group’s performance in the first game without star running back Melvin Gordon. “I thought the group, as a whole, played pretty well,” he said. “I liked the way Austin (Ekeler) and (Justin Jackson) ran the football. I do not like the fumble (by Ekeler) down inside the 2-yard line. You learn from it. You know, it’s early, so he’ll learn from it.” …

Lynn has no desire to test the new pass interference challenge rules in the preseason. “I’m not in any rush to slow the game down,” Lynn said. Thursday’s preseason opener ended in less than three hours.

Gilbert Manzano grew up reading the Pasadena Star-News, and now he’s the Chargers beat writer for the Southern California News Group. Manzano moved back to Pasadena after working three years for the Las Vegas Review-Journal as a Raiders and boxing reporter. The Cal State Northridge graduate spent two seasons as a breaking news editor for NFL.com. The Spanish-speaking lefty likes to go on runs with his dog, Cam.

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